Florida is one of the most visited US states in terms of tourism. It is also known as the “Sunshine State” for its year-round sunshine, scenic beaches, wild swamps and natural parks and amazing destinations like Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Key West, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and the world-famous Walt Disney Resort. Florida Holidays are famous for its theme parks, beaches, a mix of Latin and American culture and plenty of world-class theme parks.
Florida lies in the southeastern region of the United States of America. This amazing US State is a popular winter destination in the USA and attracts plenty of domestic and international travellers. The state is also home to over 20 million people with plenty of beaches and resorts that attract travellers. Florida is also a major cultural centre of the USA with a mixed population of Latin, Caribbean, and Cuban immigrants. Florida is also famous for its delicious food, sports, art, and music and plenty of entertainment in its cities. The state is popular for its party vibes and is a hub for glamorous nightlife with plenty of nightclubs, pubs, and bars. However, when it comes to beaches, Florida has some of the best beach destinations in North America. In this article, TravelUp presents a list of the 9 best beach destinations to visit in Florida holidays.
9 Best Beach Destinations to visit in Florida Holidays
- Miami Beach
- Naples Beach
- Clearwater Beach
- Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Siesta Key Beach
- Venice Beach
- Fort DeSoto Park Beaches
- Panama City Beach
- Cocoa Beach
1. Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city which is famous for its white sand beaches and colourful art-deco buildings along the beachfront promenades. It lies on natural and man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Its famous Art Deco District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world with hundreds of hotels, apartments, and commercial buildings. Miami Beach has a seven-mile-long shoreline with white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters. It is also a crowded beach with plenty of sunbathers and families enjoying the beach. Visitors must check out South Beach which is also home to the Art Deco district. This trendy beach has a pedestrian walkway which is full of restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs, entertainment hotspots, and plenty of things to do.
Travel Destinations That You Need to Visit on Your Private Jet
2. Naples Beach
The city of Naples lies in southern Florida and boasts of having some of the best beaches in the state. The beaches of Naples are popular for their soft white sands with the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico. These beaches are located within the city limits, in country parks, state parks and nature reserves around Naples. Take a stroll from downtown Naples and visit the endless stretch of soft sand stretching out in both directions. Check out the beautiful Naples Pier where you can join the locals and fellow travellers for a game of beach volleyball. Other scenic beaches like Lowdermilk Park, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and Vanderbilt Beach Park are known for beautiful, lush natural areas. Clam Pass Park in North Naples is also a beautiful family-friendly beach while the Lover’s Key State Park is a pet-friendly beach.
3. Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach is a popular resort area and a residential area that lies on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida. This beach is famous for its white sand beaches that stretch for almost 4 kilometres. It has a fully developed marina and is linked to the south by a short bridge to another barrier island, Sand Key. This fully developed area is known for its shopping, restaurants, and activities such as parasailing, boat tours, etc. Clearwater Beach has plenty of luxury hotels and resorts with affordable room rates. This amazing beach has consistently ranked among the best beaches in Florida. This beautiful beach is also known for its soft sand and is excellent for walking swimming, and plenty of water sports. It also has some of the best restaurants and nightlife in Florida.
4. Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city that lies north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is also known as the “Venice of America”. It is also a popular travel destination in Florida and has reputation for its scenic beaches, resorts and hotels, nightlife, entertainment, and delicious gastronomy. Fort Lauderdale Beach has a boardwalk that links the beach with hotels and restaurants. The beach lies in the middle of the city and is a popular tourism hotspot where locals and visitors mingle and enjoy the sun, walk, and job along the boardwalk and play games on the beach. The beach is also known for hosting various events and entertainment, street performances and concerts around the year. It is also family-friendly and has dedicated lifeguards keeping a close watch on the swimmers and bathers on the beach. It is also popular for water sports like scuba diving, snorkelling, and jet-skiing.
5. Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key is known for its amazing scenic beaches that have attracted locals and visitors for decades. This amazing region has six beaches that are perfect for all kinds of travellers. Among the most popular and largest beaches in the city is Siesta Key Beach. This amazing beach is known for its white and soft sand and on its father northern side, it has a much wider beach which is also calmer. Point of Rocks Beach is the perfect one for snorkellers and scuba divers. Check out Turtle Beach which is ideal for nature lovers and far away from the crowd. Looking for a majestic sunset with a soft reddish and pinking hue, visit Sunset Beach which lies a short walk from Siesta Village and is the best place for capturing the iconic pinkish-red sunsets. Another must-visit beach is Crescent Beach known for its thriving coral and active marine life.
6. Venice Beach
Venice Beach lies along Santa Monica’s south side on the Pacific Coast Highway and was developed as a beach resort on the theme of Italian city of Venice with canals, piazzas, pedestrian bridges, a lagoon, and a colonnaded business district. It is also known for small prehistoric sharks’ teeth that are found within the fine sand. Many travellers come to Venice Beach to look for these small prehistoric shark teeth that have decomposed on the seafloor. This scenic beach is also a popular one of wildlife watchers who will have a great time watching dolphins, turtles, and plenty of birds. Venice Beach is also full of facilities like picnic area, volleyball courts, and boardwalks and free parking as well. This popular family beach is a great place to take a stroll and enjoy the scenic views. Check out the Venice Public Fishing Pier is popular.
7. Fort DeSoto Park Beaches
Fort DeSoto State Park is known in Florida for its scenic, raw, and nature-friendly beaches. It offers two beaches that have fair amenities, barbecues, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and restrooms. The park is also home to several walking trails, two fishing piers and a historic fort that dates to 1900. North Beach stretch for miles and is quite wide. It has shallow, warm waters that extend into the Gulf of Mexico and offers stunning panoramic views. East Beach is a long and narrow beach which is popular for watching the sunrise. The water is shallow with small waves which are ideal for swimming and sunbathing. It also has a Skyway Bridge that offers sprawling scenic views. Fort DeSoto Park has five islands and is full of white-sand beaches, ecological zones, mangrove swamps, and plenty of wildlife including the nesting ground for turtles and more than 300 species of birds and plants.
8. Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach lies in the Florida Panhandle and it is a waterfront town and vacation destination in northwest Florida. It is also known for its white sand beaches and the calm and clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This beach is a popular beach destination during the summer months. It has an amazing white-sand beach that stretches for 27 miles and offers plenty of activities. There are several restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, hotels, and resorts. The beach is perfect for water sports like Jet Ski and boat rentals, paddle boarding, scuba diving, and snorkelling and a marine park. Nearby Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheatre hosts free weekly concerts each summer and several annual events like a pirate festival and a Florida-style Mardi Gras celebration.
9. Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach lies on Florida’s Atlantic shore, south of Cape Canaveral. It is also popular as the “Space Coast.” It lies an hour’s drive from Orlando and is the closest beach to Orlando’s many resorts. Cocoa Beach is also famous for its wind and waves that attract plenty of water sports lovers who are willing to enjoy surfing, kiteboarding, and parasailing. The nearby attractions of Cocoa Beach are the famous Kennedy Space Center and several museums that focuses on the theme of art, natural sciences, air and space technology.
Check out: 12 things you may not be aware of regarding the Florida Keys
